The Scorpions won by scores of 23-25, 25-19, 25-21, and 25-17 over a Rams team that went winless in 2007 but is now 3-12 overall. UTB/TSC, which defeated Our Lady of the Lake University on Friday, 3-2, is now 3-13 for the year with two straight victories.

"We've played such a brutal schedule up to this point, and that really prepared us for our conference matches," Scorpion head coach John Barnes said. "It's always big to win your conference opener."

The victory came with bad news for the Scorpions. Senior captain Katie Japp injured her left hand colliding with a teammate in the first set on a serve receive. The extent of Japp's injury was not immediately known, but she did not return after the play.

Without Japp, the rest of the Scorpions stepped up. "Gaby (Maraboto) and Belinda (Carreon) stepped into Katie's spot and had some big plays in that fourth set," Barnes said. "Everyone played well without Katie on the floor."

Sophomore Jacque Touchet had her best match of the season, collecting 12 kills on 18 attempts with only three errors for a .500 hitting percentage. She also added two aces, three solo blocks, and one assisted block.

Freshman Amanda Ozuna had her best outing of the year as well with 12 kills on 34 swings. Junior Jeanne O'Leary also had 12 kills on 42 attacks.

Setter Chelsea Spadaro, who occasionally plays on the attack, had a double-double with 10 kills and 40 assists.

The four Scorpion defensive specialists all had double figures in digs. Maraboto had 15, Anayeli Trevino 13, Lesly Montes 11 and Jenny Soto 10.

UTB/TSC now plays seven straight conference road matches over a two-weekend stretch. The Scorpions visit East Texas October 10-11 for matches against Jarvis Christian College, Wiley College and Texas College.